Assassination attempt leaves 2 Sinaloa state legislators hospitalized in Culiacán

Two authorities legislators from the Citizens’ Movement enactment (MC) were attacked by gunmen connected Wednesday successful Culiacán, the superior of the bluish authorities of Sinaloa. 

Representatives Sergio Torres Félix and Elizabeth Rafaela Montoya Ojeda were wounded portion successful their conveyance adjacent the boardwalk successful downtown Culiacán. The incidental occurred astir noon, soon aft the legislators had near the Congress building.

Sergio Torres served arsenic politician of Culiacán (2014-2016) and unsuccessfully ran for politician of Sinaloa successful 2021. He is considered to beryllium a starring campaigner for politician successful 2027. (Facebook)

Responding to reports of gunfire, nationalist information officers arrived soon thereafter, but the assailants had already fled the area. 

Montoya was deed by a slug and was reported to beryllium successful unchangeable condition, portion Torres — wounded by shrapnel — is said to beryllium successful delicate, but unchangeable condition. Gonzalo Quintero, the lawmakers’ bodyguard who was wounded portion attempting to repel the attack, is besides successful unchangeable condition.

Wednesday’s unit occurred the time aft Culiacán constabulary main Alejandro Bravo was fired upon erstwhile helium and respective policemen responded to complaints astir gunfire adjacent the metropolis airport. Bravo’s car was pierced by respective bullets, but helium was unharmed. The attackers escaped aft placing spike stripes successful the way of the patrol cars.

Culiacán is the locus of a fratricidal warfare wrong 1 of the world’s astir almighty transnational transgression organizations — the Sinaloa Cartel. The infighting began successful earnest successful September 2024,  a fewer weeks aft rival cartel leaders were arrested successful the U.S.

Before she was elected arsenic a authorities lawmaker, Elizabeth Montoya served arsenic a Culiacán metropolis councilmember and authorities manager of the DIF household assistance agency. (Facebook)

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha instantly ordered the authorities Security Ministry to behaviour a “search and seizure operation” to find those liable for the attack. A peculiar quality portion was besides dispatched to the scene.

“I person communicated with the … authorities Attorney General’s Office truthful that enactment is taken promptly and efficiently (as the probe proceeds),” Rocha posted connected his X account.

Rocha besides contacted President Claudia Sheinbaum who authorized the national Security Cabinet to instrumentality portion successful the investigation.

“From the infinitesimal the events were reported, nonstop connection was established with authorities of the Sinaloa State Government and inter-institutional actions were coordinated to enactment the investigation,” the Security Cabinet said successful a statement.

The Security Cabinet analyzed video surveillance footage from the country successful an effort to place the attackers’ flight route.  

Media reports indicated that the conveyance allegedly utilized successful the onslaught had been located Wednesday afternoon.

Torres served arsenic politician of Culiacán (2014-2016) portion with the Institutional Revolutionary Party. Shortly aft his word ended, helium switched to the MC and unsuccessfully ran for politician successful 2021. He is considered to beryllium a starring campaigner for politician successful 2027.

With reports from La Jornada, Reforma, El Universal and El Financiero